Set Goals That Are Enjoyable

Most goal-setting programs are hard. The system might sound easy, but achieving the goals is difficult. It usually takes discipline, willpower, a strong mindset, hard work, sacrifice and struggle.

No wonder most people fail at their goals or New Year's Resolutions!

I've got a different approach to goal setting: This year, choose, plan and achieve goals that bring you joy, ease and happiness - not only when you achieve them, but along the way as well.

Now I know this flies in the face of many (most?) goal-setting programs! So be warned that what I'm going to share here might be controversial, confronting or conflicting with other advice you've seen. But hey - if you do embrace my advice, you will enjoy the next twelve months. So what have you got to lose?

We spend way too much time in our life doing things we don't want, that we're not good at, with people we don't like, and without getting any reward. Why not do something different this year?

Heck, there'll be plenty of times when life isn't perfect. Sure, you might get stuck in traffic, fight with your partner, struggle getting the kids to sleep, do work that you don't want to do just because it's in your job description, or force yourself to be more disciplined at work. But those things are going to happen anyway. Why would you deliberately schedule more of those things in your goal setting as well?

Manage the information overload with blogging

I was talking to a client recently about managing the information overload. She - like many people - is feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information she has to absorb in order to keep up to date with her area of expertise.

I offered her one suggestion that works for me: I blog a lot.

So how does that help manage the incoming information? (I hear you cry) Well, here's why ...

When I'm reading things, not only am I thinking of improving my own knowledge, I'm thinking of ways to blog about it so other people get the value of that knowledge as well. This means the information is twice as valuable as before. So I'm more motivated to read it, and there's more of an incentive to do so.

One of our jobs as experts is to filter stuff for our clients, discarding most of it and re-packaging what's left in a relevant, meaningful way for them. So look for ways to share whatever you learn with your clients. If you can get paid for doing this, so much the better!

What is impossible to do today in your business?

I recently co-facilitated a strategic planning session for a group of thought leaders, to help them plan for 2010.

I started by asking them a question that leadership consultant Joel Barker asks all his clients (Thanks to my sales mentor David Penglase for bringing this to my attention):

"What is impossible to do today in your business, but, if it could be done, would fundamentally change it for the better?"

It's a powerful question, and one I asked myself as well during the year.

For me, the impossible thing was to take my Web design business in a new direction, while still maintaining the strong relationship I've established with current clients. It was a real dilemma for me - and certainly seemed impossible. But asking this question turned it from an obstacle into a possibility. And that was enough to trigger an idea that I think will make a significant difference in 2010. Watch this space!

True happiness comes from recurring income, not passive income

One of the biggest misunderstandings about Tim Ferriss' book "The Four-Hour Work Week" is that it's about creating an automated business so you only have to work four hours a week; and then you can goof off the rest of the time.

Not true!

It's actually about doing what you love, so that what seems like work only takes a few hours a week.

True happiness in business comes from recurring income, not passive income. The difference? Passive income is making money in your sleep, which - I agree - is difficult. Recurring income, on the other hand, is where you have a bunch of loyal followers who want to be part of your network, you consistently deliver great value to them, and they're happy to pay you a subscription for it.

My rental properties bring me passive income. My membership site brings me recurring income. I have to work at the latter, but it's work I love, so it's by far the more fulfilling.